During conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy: U.S. Ambassador

India has consistently held that its ties with Russia are part of its independent bilateral relations and strategic autonomy, and has thus far not directly criticised Russia at the United Nations for the war in Ukraine

There is no such thing as “strategic autonomy” during a conflict, U.S. Ambassador Eric Garcetti said on Thursday, even as sources said that U.S. officials have raised concerns with Indian officials over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Russia this week.

The comments, including a series of statements critical of the visit by the U.S. State Department, are the sharpest sign of tensions between the U.S. and India over the Putin-Modi summit, including the timing of the talks that came as Western leaders met in Washington for a conference of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), and a series of deadly Russian missile strikes across Ukraine.

Also read | India’s relationship with Russia gives it ability to urge Putin to end war in Ukraine: White House

“I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy. But in times of conflict there is no such thing as strategic autonomy, we will, in crisis moments, need to know each other,” Mr. Garcetti said, addressing a conference in Delhi, stressing the need for India and the U.S. to “act together” in “times of need” as trusted partners.

The U.S. Ambassador was addressing a conclave on India-U.S. defence and security partnership, organised by CUTS International and U.S. Consulate-General, Kolkata.

“No war is distant any more and we must not just stand for peace. We must take concrete actions to make sure those who don’t play by peaceful rules, that their war machines cannot continue unabated,” Mr. Garcetti continued, without specifically naming Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 or China’s transgressions at the Line of Actual Control in 2020, but referring to countries that have “ignored sovereign borders” in the past three years.

In statements on Ukraine, the U.S. State Department regularly refers to the “Russian war machine”. India has consistently held that its ties with Russia are part of its independent bilateral relations and strategic autonomy, and has thus far not directly criticised Russia at the United Nations for the war in Ukraine.